This newspaper recently mounted a convincing case for Earth, Wind & Fire as one of pop's most undersung musical heroes, whose cross-pollination of funk, jazz and disco quietly influenced everyone from Public Enemy to DJ Shadow. However, it should also be remembered that America's unit-shifting 1970s colossus also inspired Britfunk horrors Level 42 and Shakatak, and thousands of "baby-making" couples for whom the EWF experience probably didn't involve sampling or heavy funk, but a Ford Cortina and a pair of fluffy dice.

The band's first UK tour in years typifies their mercurial but baffling career. The space-age shows and flying drummers of their heyday are long gone. Instead, percussion solos, cringy spirituals and plinky-plonk pianos that went out of fashion with white stilettos are made more tolerable by the awesome sight of bassist Verdine White's enormous tassled trousers.

Their interminable funk jams and 1970s obscurities may tempt all but the purists into fleeing for the exits, but thankfully, the 90-minute experience erupts with a stellar, hit-packed last half-hour. Bailey's performance of After the Love Has Gone showcases one of pop's most astonishing vocal ranges. With harmonies so smooth you could spread them, Fantasy and September make you marvel that 12 human beings can gel to make a fusion of funk and disco sound like the product of divine intervention.

The jawdropping Let's Groove incorporates a new rap section and sees the band transform the arena into one giant, gyrating Boogie Wonderland.